Newsletter

Letters to the Editor Tuesday

I consider myself a relatively considerate driver — no tailgating, allowing people into traffic and acknowledging when others reciprocate.

So I wasn’t expecting a bout of road rage while driving to work along the 1400 block of East 33rd Street. After all, it was a little after 8 a.m. on a Friday morning.

Having sat patiently for the school bus to fill with its kindergarten cargo, I proceeded on my way only to be brought to a halt 50 yards further on.

Two cars driving in opposite directions had pulled to the middle of the road and stopped window to window. I sat patiently again, waiting for one or the other to move or pull over, they had clearly seen me.

Nothing... I honked my horn and was greeted with a filthy look and a tirade of abuse. After which money was exchanged for a small paper wrap. And finally I was allowed pass.

How rude and inconsiderate of me to interrupt their important, tax-free business transaction on my way to put in a solid days work.

Without searching it out, I routinely see drug dealing and participation going on in broad daylight throughout Savannah. The fact that there are neighborhoods I dare not enter after dark in the city, in which I am raising a four-year-old daughter, is, quite frankly, disgraceful.

DAVID LAING

Savannah

Erect life-saving barrier on I-516/Lynes Parkway

Maybe now the Department of Transportation, be it state or federal, will build some sort of a barrier in the median of I-516/Lynes Parkway to keep cars from jumping the median and crashing head on into others.

I have asked them before in writing to consider that request, but the excuse at the time (10 years ago) from the DOT engineers was that the footprint was not big enough to accommodate a guard rail. Just do it!

ROBERT A. MORRISSEY, JR.

Savannah

Remove party labels after candidates’ names

Too many people today vote on a political party basis. They really don’t know the candidates’ views or qualifications and still vote for them because of their party affiliation.

I have always paid attention to the candidates themselves and voted for the person that I think represents me. I don’t care what their party is.

What I consider a major flaw in our voting system today is that most ballots let people vote a straight party ticket, either Democrat or Republican.

Is this really an informed voter?

If party affiliation wasn’t on the ballot, voters would have to know who the candidates are before they endorse them.

Voting for the future of our country is too important to be decided by an electorate that doesn’t take the time to examine the issues and make a decision based on the qualifications of the candidates.

Maybe if we didn’t have a D or R or I on the ballot, it would encourage voters to take a closer look at the issues and the candidate.

CHUCK ALTABAS

Savannah

Today’s teachers should join the 21st century

Why do most teachers continue to teach our students in the same way they themselves were taught in school when there wasn’t even the Internet?

The other day when I was monitoring some students bubble in their answers to a standardized test, I had a flashback to when I was in elementary school when we also bubbled in standardized tests.

That was more than 40 years ago. And we are still doing it in school.

Can you imagine how our world would be if our technology hadn’t changed in 40 years?

When I was in Europe we went on a tour in Italy and stopped at a former university which was used hundreds of years ago. Even though they had writing tools at that time, the students weren’t allowed to write anything down while the professor lectured. It was considered cheating. They were expected to learn it just from what they heard.

I remember in my early years of teaching when some of the first students with computers at home would bring in their writing assignments, which were written on the first word processors. The teachers refused to accept the papers. They said by using the word processors they were cheating.

The only time students pick up a pen or pencil is when they are doing school work.

MARK HULME

Computer Teacher

Bartlett Middle School

Savannah

‘Savannah Bridge’ recognizes people, area

Now that it’s almost official, let’s remind folks of the overwhelming aptness of “the Savannah Bridge.” “Sa-wan-wa” was the Algonquin Indian word for “south” and thus the Savannah Indians who lived along the river at one time were “those in the south.”

The river took its name from that tribe, and on his arrival in Georgia, General Oglethorpe “marked out a town, and from the Indian name of the river, which run past it, called it Savannah.” Thus “the Savannah Bridge” recognizes and honors not only the river it crosses, but also the early indigenous occupants of the region, the town which is now our city, and “the south” which we hope to embody and preserve.

JULIAN D. KELLY, JR.

Savannah

‘Gateway Bridge’ inspires

How about something a bit more imaginative than Savannah River Bridge? It’s recently been described as a “Lowcountry portal into Georgia.”

St. Louis has their Gateway Arch. Why not our “Gateway Bridge?”

CARSON LEMMON

Richmond Hill

Let state take over Bacon Park Golf Course

In regards to Elmo Weeks’ article on Bacon Park Golf Course (Feb. 24), I feel it’s time we take a look outside of private management of the course.

Savannah is one of the top tourist destinations in Georgia and the United States. One area where Savannah has lacked is in the funding of state parks. Skidaway Island State Park is bare bones compared to other state parks.

What better for the tourism of Georgia and Savannah than to have Bacon Park Golf Course designated as a state golf course?

State funding will give the course the means necessary to become a showcase for tourists and local players, especially with accommodations nearby and downtown just minutes away.